Car vs Public Transport Calculator — Which Is Worth It

The monthly car cost is the sum of fuel costs and fixed costs. Fixed costs include depreciation or loan repayment, insurance, servicing, tyres and repairs. For a typical driver covering 1,500 km/month in a car using 7 l/100 km at 6.50 per litre, fuel alone costs about 682.50, and with 700 in fixed costs — about 1,382 per month in total.

Not always. In cities with good tram, metro and bus networks, a monthly pass (e.g. 130) is many times cheaper than running a car. Outside cities where public transport is sparse, a car may be the only practical option.

Fixed costs are expenses independent of kilometres driven: insurance, depreciation or lease/loan payments, servicing, seasonal tyre changes, parking fees and a repair fund. These typically total 500–1,200 per month.

Formula: fuel cost = km/month × (consumption l/100 km ÷ 100) × fuel price. Example: 1,500 km × (7 ÷ 100) × 6.50 = 682.50. The more you drive and the higher the consumption, the larger fuel costs are.

With typical car costs of 1,382/month vs a pass at 130/month, the difference is 1,252/month and 15,024 per year. Over 5 years that is about 75,000 — equivalent to a new car or a home deposit.

In cities with good cycling infrastructure, combining a monthly pass with a bicycle covers most transport needs. The financial savings are substantial and you also avoid parking stress.

Each extra litre per 100 km adds roughly 6–7 in costs per 100 km. At 1,500 km/month, the difference between a car using 5 l/100 km and one using 10 l/100 km is about 325–490 per month.

Indirectly — you can include them in the fixed costs field. If you regularly pay for parking or tolls, add those amounts to fixed costs to get a full picture of your car expenses.

Families with children often need a car for school runs and errands, but it is worth checking whether the city offers family group passes. Car-sharing can also cover irregular trips cost-effectively.

No. The calculator gives indicative results and does not account for residual vehicle value, financing costs or individual tax benefits. Results are for guidance only and do not constitute financial advice.